FOOD DRINKS – Page 2

March 26, 2015 by: Sunny London

Vapiano- Pizza, Pasta and a Party

If you like music and women, do you know where to go in London for both? It’s Vapiano! And let me tell you why…

Just when I thought I had eaten everything on Wardour Street, I discovered Vapiano. It’s a contemporary Italian restaurant built on the concept of self-service with face-to-face interactions with chefs. Vapiano has three locations in London, and two of them feature live music nights (free of charge) once a month.

Mr. Sunny and I showed up very curious and hungry the night we visited. When we arrived, we each received a smart card. With this payment system guests ‘tap’ for each item they order using their card. When you leave, you pay at this same desk. This would have been perfect for me back in my college days when I was studying at Florida State University’s study abroad centre just a few streets away. When dining in groups, especially as a university student, paying the bill without separate checks can be tricky.

Mr. Sunny and I were a bit overwhelmed at first as to what we needed to do. We learned that guests order pasta, pizzas, antipasti and salads directly from the chefs at individual stations within the restaurant.

There were so many, many options that sounded delicious!

All of the food is prepared fresh each day and dishes are prepared in front of you when you order. Here’s a sneaky look at the pasta machine in the back that works all the carb-a-licious magic…

Our big eyes and empty stomachs made decisions that proved to be challenging. Here’s what we picked to start…

Vapiano Menu: Antipasti and Insalate

– Carpaccio (finely sliced beef fillet, cipriani sauce, Grana Padano D.O.P., mushrooms, rocket)
– Piatto Antipasti (prosciutto tipo Parma, salami, pepperoni, roasted vegetables, pesto, Grana Padano D.O.P. buffalo mozzarella, bruschetta)
– Insalata Caprese (cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil, rocket)

We actually had to make several trips with our trays to carry everything to our table. When we finally sat down, I stared at the food and said to Mr. Sunny, “This much food is crazy!’

Mr. Sunny quickly corrected me with his usual wit and said, ‘No, sweet heart. It’s… caprese!’

We tackled all the food and still managed to order a second course. With all the interesting options on the menu we chose:

Vapiano Menu: Pasta and Pizza

– Rucola Raviola (ravioli with rocket, ricotts cheese filling, butter and pine nuts)
– Capricciosa (ham, mushrooms, artichokes, olives, tomato sauce, mozzarella)

Here’s a few shots of the ravioli I enjoyed.

As I started to eat my main course, Mr. Sunny waited for his pizza pager to buzz. He felt the beer selection (both Italian and German) was good. I have to admit, the White Tea Elderflower Mint I sipped was a sneaky show stealer.

I highly recommend the tea. It was a really refreshing surprise and was so smooth and lovely. When Mr. Sunny’s pager went off, he travelled upstairs and returned with this ginormous platter pictured below.

We battled through all the beautiful, beautiful flour-filled food. (As a side note, I don’t think this is the place for my gluten-free Sunny friends.)

Even though we really had no busines pushing ourselves further, I couldn’t get the dolci (dessert) selections off my mind. Since Mr. Sunny and I both go goo-goo for tiramisu, we just had to find room for the little treat.

The atmosphere when we visited Valpiano was calm and everyone was very eager to help us enjoy the experience. Many thanks to the Manager, Fran, who was visible and informative throughout the time we ate our food and enjoyed the experience. He and the rest of the staff moved swiftly through the restaurant all evening, making sure everyone was happy.

We went to Valpiano on a Monday around 5pm in an effort to avoid the crowds. The restaurant spans two floors, and we had plenty of options for seating on both floors.

However, don’t be decieved. This place gets packed! We left around 6:45pm and the queues were getting long at the various food stations. It’s a popular place to be in Soho. If you’re really looking for fun, you need to go to one of the live music nights at either their Soho or Bankside restaurants to celebrate #PastaWithSoul.

For one night only, Vapiano Soho and Vapiano Bankside will host a young, unsigned act looking for an audience to test brand new exclusive material.

On April 7th in Soho and the 8th in Bankside singer/songwriter, Stephanie McCourt will perform.

Vapiano Fast Facts:

– Top-selling pizza = Calzone and Pesto con Spinaci
– Top-selling pasta = Carbonara, Scampi e Spinaci and Salsiccia con Fichi
– Pizzas take 8 minutes to make.
– Simple pasta dishes take 3 minutes to make.
– Social media indicates that 64% of Vapiano’s guests are women between ages 18-34.
– A large portion of guests work in the music industry.
– The London locations serve an average of 27,000 customers a week.
– Great Portland Street guests consume the leaves off of 300 basil pots a week.

Based on the above facts, you could be cheeky and conclude: If you’re a guy who likes to consume ‘pot’ leaves and is looking for a girl who loves to eat carbs, listen to music and update her status with foodie pictures on social media- check out Valpiano. 😉

Oh my!

Seriously, Sunny friends, I think Valpiano is the perfect place to party with a group of fun friends seeking freshly made food, a contemporary atmosphere and an easy way to pay the bill. For the West End, this restaurant offers very reasonably priced food and service that satisfies beyond expectations.

Vapiano is open: Monday-Thursday 11am-11pm; Friday and Saturday 11am-midnight, Sunday 12pm-11pm.

Our experience at Vapiano was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not influence my opinion of the experience. However, could I really disagree with 27,000 customers a week? 😉

May 11, 2015 by: Sunny London

The Scoop on Godiva Ice Cream in London

What’s one food item I miss as an American expat living in London? Godiva Ice Cream. It’s available in many American grocery stores, right next to brands like Ben and Jerry’s, Haagen Dazs and Breyers. Plus, when I moved to London, I assumed Godiva Ice Cream would be something I could find fairly easily in places like Tesco.

Not so much.

You see, in America you can find Godiva chocolate many places. For example, there’s usually a selection of their chocolate bars on counters at Macy’s and Hallmark stores. While it’s still priced as a luxury chocolate, it’s much easier to find in America than in London.

It wasn’t until I received an invitation to attend The Taste of Summer launch party for Godiva Ice Cream that I learned why I can’t find it here.

If you follow me on Twitter and Instagram, you know I frequently pop in the luxury chocolatier on Regent Street. Since, that is my favourite area to shop in London, I can’t resist stopping in Godiva every time I am there.

They always have such gorgeous displays of delicious chocolate! For this reason, I wasn’t surprised when I arrived at the launch party and found tables full of tasty toppings for their Godiva ice cream summer debut.

As party guests were teased with these visuals, we had the chance to enjoy some standard Godiva dessert delights.

During this time, I also chatted with the very, very lucky Godiva staff.

I learned that Godiva is marketed differently in the US, UK and Japan. That’s why it was so easy for me to have access to one of my favourite treats in America. It is very exclusive in the UK. I found this suprising since it’s a Belgium company. If you read my Eurostar from London to Brussels feature on the blog, you know Belgium is just a few hours away from London.

The soft ice cream collection is only out in London for the summer and is seriously cool enough to warrant its own hashtag. Prices to enjoy this summer sensation begin at £4.50.

It’s available in Godiva’s London stores. This is what’s involved for the bespoke soft serve Godiva Ice Cream…

Taste of Summer: Godiva Ice Cream

– Select one base, either a waffle cone, small cup or large cup
– Choose vanilla or dark choclate Soft Ice Cream (or both together!)
– Add a topping (milk, white or dark Crispy Pearls, chocolate syrup, chocolate flakes or bresilienne)

It’s that simple to create your order from the Godiva Ice Cream Menu!

Here’s a small taste of what I had that evening…

You can learn more about the luxury company from Belgium at Godiva Chocolates UK. I also have a guilt free feature on Belgium Chocolate and a Trip to Brussels, if you’re ready to see endless photos of sweets.

And, if you just want a daily dose of calorie free indulgence, be sure to follow GodivaUK on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook too! You may even see a sneaky repost of my frequent trips integrated in to their chocolate feed…

Sunny friends, don’t forget to pop in for a cone or two this summer. And, if you go to America, grab a pint at a grocery store. Specifically, I recommend Godiva Ice Cream with Milk Chocolate Hearts. That’s right, nearly every bite of the chocolate ice cream features a solid heart made with love by the luxury Belgium chocolate company.

June 9, 2015 by: Sunny London

A Sexy Night at Noir W1 in London

Popping in to London’s latest lounges is always a fun thing to do, especially when they’re in a great area of town.

This is why I was very excited to visit Noir W1, a fairly new nightclub in Marylebone.

It was a familiar location to me, as it’s exactly where the club Après used to be. In fact, if you can find Selfridges, you can find Noir W1. They’re gorgeous neighbours.

Noir’s makeover is a head turner. Now, I don’t mean like a Bruce Jenner double take on Vanity Fair kind of cranial whip, but the lounge should get a serious look over from my night owl readers.

As the name would suggest, the interior is dark. If you remember the previous Après lower level, here’s what’s in Noir now…

The night I visited it was being prepped for an exclusive event.

Noir’s menu has several yummy options for you.

My selections included the Beef Carpaccio and the Seared Tuna with Wasabi Mash and Chimichurri.

I regret Mr Sunny couldn’t join me because it would have allowed me also to sample the Truffled Mac and Cheese. It sounded delicious. I don’t think I ever met a truffle I didn’t like.

Noir’s cocktail list, however, is the real attraction. It’s a bit naughty. But what would you expect from a lounge named Noir?

For my first drink, I sipped on the Kiss Me Deadly.

A real charmer, isn’t it? {giggles}

It’s a blend of mandarin and lavendar shrub, gin and Champagne. Now, if you think about it, this drink is perfect for a champagne loving Florida girl who now lives in London. The orange flavour of the ‘Sunshine State’ paired with a quintessential British liquor and topped with bubbles really could be my kiss of death. I was careful to pace myself!

The second drink I tested at Noir W1 is the PPC Cocktail, which has Portobello Road gin, sushi ginger and grapefruit bitters.

I give both drinks two thumbs up. And you can see from their creative presentation, Noir W1 really makes an extra effort to make their drinks fun.

I would suggest Noir W1 for a place to go with a group of friends if you’re near the Marylebone area after work or later. Being so close to Selfridges, I can imagine it attracts a fashionable crowd around happy hour and certainly in to the evening hours.

My visit was around 6:30pm on a Thursday. I’d love to hear about your experience at Noir W1 later in the evening. It seems like it would be a great place for a little dancing, good food and great cocktails.

My delicious drinks and food were complimentary for the purpose of a review. This does not affect my opinion of the cocktail bar.

Where is your favourite hot spot in Marylebone, Sunny friends?

April 2, 2015 by: Sunny London

Hotel Cafe Royal- How to Make Chocolate Easter Eggs

What would you do if one of London’s most glamorous hotels contacted you to spend an evening learning how to make chocolate Easter eggs? If you’re like me, you accept that invitation from Hotel Cafe Royal with a super fast, ‘YES, Please!’

If you remember back in the Autumn, I had a chocolate week on the Sunny in London blog. I decorated a chocolate skull for Halloween, took a chocolate making master class, and featured an entire post on eating chocolate during my trip to Belgium.

What I didn’t know was around that same time during Chocolate Week in London, Hotel Cafe Royal launched their own ‘Profile 66’ chocolate created by Executive Pastry Chef, Andrew Blas. It’s called ‘Profile 66’ because it features 66% pure chocolate. For Easter, they are showcasing this exclusive recipe with a range of hand-painted eggs, chocolate treats, themed menus and a Golden Ticket competition.

Naturally, when I received an invitation to have an inside look at how to make a chocolate Easter egg, I couldn’t wait!

To start the evening, a group of London’s most excited food, fashion and lifestyle bloggers gathered in the cafe of Hotel Cafe Royal, which is on Regent Street. That’s where you can find the chocolate eggs that Chef Andy Blas has carefully crafted. We were whisked through the divine smelling kitchen of the hotel to a secret chocolate making room where we got to see the chocolate being created. Then we each received drinks made of chocolate, Drambuie and raspberry foam.

The Executive Chefs taught us the details of what makes the Hotel Cafe Royal chocolate so extraordinary and then started to show us how to make chocolate Easter eggs that we could keep. These are samples they showed us to motivate our creativity.

The Hotel Cafe Royal- How to Make a Chocolate Easter Egg Steps:

– First, we used cotton balls to wipe thoroughly the large eggs molds.
– Chef Andy Blas explained that we could use brushes and our hands to add the vibrant colours to our eggs and had numerous tools ready for us to handle. This included gloves because the colour is pretty powerful.

* Mr Sunny wants you to know that is not his toothbrush featured above. However, since I visited Hotel Cafe Royal, he feels like he is starting each morning with chocolate minty breath. 😉 (Shhhhh, don’t tell the hotel!)

– Next we chose our colours for the egg’s chocolate shell. Chef Andy explained that we should chose the colour we wanted accented the most first, because all other colours would fill in behind it. Naturally, I picked a bright, sunny yellow and put my ‘Super Sunny’ initial on my Easter egg.

– Chef Andy carefully demonstrated the next step which involved filling our egg molds with chocolate, removing air bubbles from the mixture, pouring off the interior, and scraping off the excess. He emphasised that it’s important to make neat edges for the shells because if they dried outside the rims, they might break the entire shell when you snap them off later.

We then had the chance to fill our chocolate Easter eggs and put them on trays to dry for a few minutes. Not a bad way to spend an evening, eh?

– While our Easter eggs dried, Chef Andy showed us how to temper chocolate and then gave us a giant bowl of jellied candies to toss inside our ~~mouths~~ eggs.

– Finally, we carefully removed our chocolate shells from the molds, put them on empty egg crates, and delicately placed handfuls of candy inside them. I think if my drink below hadn’t been empty, I may have had my ‘S’ for Sunny facing the right way on my Easter egg.

I guess you can say that second drink just made me ‘S backwards.’ 😉

We then quickly melted one side of the egg and placed the two halves together to form our chocolate Easter eggs.

Hotel Cafe Royal- Chocolate Easter Egg Making and Decorating Experience:

– I loved meeting all the staff at the hotel and thank them (especially Chef Andy) for a fantastic evening of chocolate fun.
– You can have a chance to enjoy this opportunity also. Chef Andy has made chocolate eggs that are available in the Hotel Cafe Royal cafe for just £7. Five of these eggs contain not only jellied candies but also a ‘Golden Ticket.’ Those who find these tickets in their Easter eggs will win a day in the chocolate room. This experience will include a full master class of teaching, tempering, and of course, tasting chocolate. And who doesn’t want to play in chocolate all day?

If you simply can’t wait to get your hands on the exclusive Profile 66 chocolate from Hotel Cafe Royal, you can visit one of the hotel’s bars and restaurants for their numerous cocoa-centric menu options.

I can’t wait to visit this historic and five-star hotel again to enjoy these tasty treats or a night of luxury travel. I hear they offer an amazing afternoon tea also. Who’s enjoyed it? Would the #LDNBloggersTea group want to give it a go for one of our quarterly afternoon teas?

What’s everyone have planned for Easter? Surely, you’ll celebrate with one of these decadent eggs… and maybe even a golden ticket!

November 20, 2021 by: Sunny London

Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London

Sunny friends, the Brigit’s Bakery Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London is the trifecta for London food lovers during the holidays!

This unique bus tour around London could tick all the boxes for a person who loves London, delicious food and Christmas.

Along with 29 other travel bloggers, I was invited to attend a special trip around London for the purpose of previewing the Brigit’s Bakery Christmas Afternoon Tea. For quite some time, I have wanted to take an afternoon tea tour on an iconic Routemaster bus with this company. When they first launched in 2014, I was a bit wary because I am not the most coordinated person. And while you wouldn’t think a lot of agility is needed to eat food, the thought of taking pictures and reviewing it at the same time is intimidating. But the more I saw the variety of tours they offer growing, the more I realised that the idea of a travelling tea was a smashing hit with people in London.

So this is how the experience goes…

christmas-afternoon-tea-on-a-bus-in-london-brigits-bakery

Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- The Food

This is the first category I want to tell you about because it is the biggest surprise for me. I rate the food 5 stars and this is why…

Not only is everything super tasty, but also it is really fresh. It is always disappointing when you go to a luxury hotel for afternoon tea and are served stale bread. No matter how decadent the pastries are during the last course, that crusty impression from the sandwiches stays with you.

Honestly, I had low expectations of the food going in to this afternoon tea. It didn’t seem probable that food could be prepared and transported on a bus to Victoria Station and maintain it’s original intent for quality and taste. Brigit’s Bakery has masterfully defeated this obstacle.

When we stepped on to the bus, all of the tables were beautifully set. This includes every food item except the basket of scones that we were served about half way through the journey.

To me, that’s a Christmas afternoon tea miracle!

Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- The Journey

This is where the experience could get a bit dicey, Sunny friends.

I had a blast on the journey and created a highlight video on my Instagram for you to see more of the experience.

However, there are a few things you need to consider before determining if this experience is for you. Foremost, let’s consider that you will be drinking.

We had complimentary Prosecco and several top ups each. This could be problematic for some people. While they advised us that we could enjoy the Prosecco before the tour started, it came with a disclaimer about the bus not stopping once it got rolling.

Do some quick processing about what that means, Sunny friends.

Next, there were cupholders at each place setting for guests to put their plastic Prosecco glasses, coffee or tea. They are there for a reason. The ride is bumpy and many times the bus stopped quickly, because that’s normal for busses navigating through London streets. I used a DJI Osmo Mobile Smartphone Gimbal which is on my UK Amazon Gear List (US Amazon readers find it here). I also applied Stabilisation effects while editing the video.

A few bloggers ended up with Prosecco on their lap at different times in the evening. I am not sure if it is because they were busy taking selfies and forgot to put their glasses in their cup holders or were just careless. But, I didn’t have any issue with spilling my drink. And, I had three glasses.

To be honest, since I have lived in London for 6 years and have reviewed nearly every attraction (check my trip planning guides if you are visiting London), I wasn’t that focused on sight seeing during our early evening trip. If this is your primary goal, the combination of afternoon tea and touring London might not be for you. Because the food is so good, you might be distracted away from the London landmarks.

Further, in a moving bus you won’t get the best focused pictures of these iconic locations. This is especially true if you are on the bus at night because you will catch some serious glare from the windows.

However, if you want to say you did something truly unique in London- riding a Routemaster bus while eating the most iconic meal in the UK- this afternoon tea is a must do!

But, if you think the journey would be too shaky, at the very least you can stop by their Covent Garden location. I walk by it all the time and it’s quite popular!

Brigits-Bakery-afternoon-tea-bus-tour-in-london

Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- The Length

Another huge bonus of this afternoon tea on a bus in London is the fact that there is a clear end time. Assuming you don’t get stuck in any unusual traffic, you will know when your experience ends.

My biggest ‘negative factor’ with afternoon teas in London is their length. I have been held captive at luxury hotels for nearly three hours for this food experience. After indulging in a carb fest of sandwiches, scones and pastries, I generally feel uncomfortable and lethargic. Americans, when I say I feel like a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float, you know what I mean!

If I could change anything about the traditional afternoon tea, it would be to speed up the process. So, being on the afternoon tea tour bus with Brigit’s Bakery for 90 minutes was a dream come true for me.

Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- Other Options

The Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is the first brand to do this type of bus tour in London. The best news for those who can’t go to the Christmas Afternoon Tea is that they have TONS of other options during the year. Some of them include:

Gin Lovers’ Afternoon Tea
Halloween Bus Tour
Cinco de Mayo
Mother’s Day
Valentine’s Day
Chelsea Flower Show
St Patrick Day
Movie Themed
Chinese New Year

They have these dietary options available:

Traditional Afternoon Tea
Vegan Afternoon Tea
Vegetarian Afternoon Tea
Halal Afternoon Tea
Gluten Free Afternoon Tea

For those living and/or working in London, they have delivery service as well!

Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- Final Thoughts

For the menu, prices, tour options and gift vouchers, it would be best to visit the Brigit’s Bakery website.

What do you think, Sunny friends? If you love food, travel and the holidays, would you put the Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus Tour in London on your list for Santa? What other unique food experiences have you had in a city?

And please, drop me any questions you have about my evening as a guest with Brigit’s Bakery too!

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

May 30, 2019 by: Sunny London

Wahlburgers London – Covent Garden Review

Burgers, Covent Garden, and Wahlbergs? The Wahlburgers London has opened, but is it as delicious as you would hope?

I spotted the ‘Wahlburgers Covent Garden’ signs covering an area just outside the Covent Garden tube station on the glorious late spring day of 20th May 2018.

wahlburgers-london-covent-garden-review-food-may-2019

When I learned that the first location for Wahlburgers outside North America was coming to my favourite neighbourhood in London, I immediately notified my partner in crime, Mr Sunny.

As a girl who loves a great burger, this was huge news. Further, Mr Sunny and I are huge Blue Bloods fans. For months I tweeted Wahlburgers, left comments on their Instagram and even sent an email to the HelpDesk of the Covent Garden marketing team. No one responded at all, so I had no idea when the Wahlburgers London location would open.

Finally, I learned doors for Wahlburgers London would open to the public on 20th May 2019. Ironically, this was a year to the exact day that I discovered the Boston boys’ restaurant chain was coming to Covent Garden. I wonder what took so long?

If you follow burgers joints in London, you will remember the long lines around Five Guys in Covent Garden for months after they opened. I had visions of the same happening with the Wahlburgers London location, especially since it is so near the super touristy Covent Garden piazza. But, as Mr Sunny and I learned on Wednesday, this is not the case.

We gave the menu a good review before planning our visit. When we arrived, we loved being able to get a table immediately. I wasn’t expecting a downstairs level, and this is where we were seated.

Wahlburgers London Covent Garden- The Food

At 1pm during a half term holiday in Covent Garden, not all the tables were full. It seemed to be at about 75% capacity downstairs. After about 10 minutes, our server took our order.

Crispy Yukon French Fries
Thin Crispy Onion Rings
The Triple Decker (Mr Sunny)
The Double Decker (Me)
~~Smoked Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese~~

When I tried to order the Mac ‘N Cheese, I was told it wasn’t available. I was crushed. Honestly, I wanted to see if the Wahlburgers would offer mac and cheese in true American style since the decor and everything about the Wahlburgers London location transcends you to an American burger joint. The bright green brand colour pops against everything. Marky Mark’s film posters are on the walls, and the music is loud.

After 40 minutes we saw other tables who arrived after us receive their food. Our server did stop by once to see explain things were backed up in the kitchen. Of course, that inspired us to order another round of drinks.

Mr Sunny could see the kitchen and orders waiting to be picked up. He felt quite a few of the fried things had been sitting for a long time on the counter.

At one point, I noticed a huge tray of food whizzing by me and it had two orders of mac ‘n cheese.

HOLD UP!

I immediately flagged down our server and inquired. She said they now had it and could add it to our order.

We were impressed with the burgers. However, you should know that they are prepared medium. They check with you in advance to ask if that is ok. I thought it was a law in London that burgers had to be served well done. Can anyone leave a response or thoughts to that in the comments?

The mac ‘n cheese was a disappointment. While the menu clearly indicates it is made with mini penne, I expect traditional elbow pasta when I devour this classic American comfort food.

Mr Sunny loved the onion rings.

Wahlburgers London Covent Garden Review- The Service

Every person we encountered while at the Wahlburgers London location was pleasant, accommodating and eager to do well. It seems that the back of the house organisation still needs some work. To be fair, they have only been open 10 days.

Wahlburgers London Covent Garden Review- Quality

Our bill was a whopper. £78 for a burger lunch for two in London was a surprise. I noticed they charged me for the wrong wine, which meant the total was £4 too high. Our server quickly had it adjusted to £74 when we explained it to her.

Wahlburgers London Covent Garden Review- Final Thoughts

If we head back to the new Wahlburgers London location, we should hold back on the drinks. Mr Sunny was put off by the £6.50 Peroni. I would like to try the Thanksgiving Turkey Burger, but it’s not something I would do until the Autumn when I am feeling more festive.

Apparently, ‘Jenn’s Chicken Sandwich’ is quite popular. But if I go to a burger restaurant, I am getting beef. End of story. How about you?

As for a verdict about our experience at the Wahlburgers London location- we are mixed. The burgers are good but pricey. They have a full-service bar, but you will pay top ‘dollar’ for that too. I am guessing if the kitchen can get their wheels a little bit more greased, Wahlburgers has the potential to have a queue on a weekend night in Covent Garden.

Have a look at the menu and let me know what you think. Would you spend £14.50 for a triple burger, Sunny friends?

Wahlburgers Covent Garden is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11am until 11pm (Sundays until 10.30pm). Wahlburgers offers full-service dining and a full-service bar and delivery is coming soon.

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As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

June 8, 2019 by: Sunny London

Carluccio’s Covent Garden, London Review

If you’re out and about exploring London in the Spring sunshine, it’s tough to miss Carluccio’s Covent Garden location on Garrick Street. If the weather is nice, you will find every outside table is full with people enjoying colourful cocktails.

But did you know the food inside is just as vibrant? The Summer Menu brings the seasonal flavours of the Mediterranean to the menu.

Recently, we enjoyed an opportunity to experience the new menu. If you are living in London or visiting London and want to learn more about our restaurant recommendations you can download our Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide for free below.

carluccios-covent-garden-restaurant-review-summer-menu

Carluccio’s Covent Garden London Review- The Food

Mr. Sunny chose the Grandioso Sharing Board above, which he enjoyed. I had a few slices of Mortedella and it brought back lovely memories of our trip to Bologna in February. For my Starter, I chose the Burrata e Frittedda and loved it! As our server explained when I asked his opinion, Burrata just has a natural edge against a traditional Caprese salad. Face it- the Caprese Salad is everywhere. Burrata is bellisima! And this dish which features whole creamy burrata cheese from Puglia with marinated artichoke, soya beans, peas, spring onion and mint, finished with lemon dressing has a gorgeous combination of flavour and texture.

However, to be really honest, our favourite food of the evening is Carluccio’s balsamic vinegar. When we were in Bologna, we went to Eataly and spent time choosing several Modena balsamic vinegars as souvenirs from our trip. After all, we are foodie travellers!

During our dinner at Carluccio’s, we actually felt that in comparison, our winner in taste when it comes to balsamic vinegar is what this restaurant chain sells.

The new menu’s stand-out dishes include their new Langoustine Fettucce pasta with mussels and cherry tomatoes in a white wine, tomato and chilli sauce topped with pistachios and the Swordfish Muddica steak in herb and parmesan breadcrumbs with courgette, rocket and Parmigiano Reggiano. Mr Sunny had the Swordfish and enjoyed it.

I ordered the Lamb Gremolata. To be fair, this one was a disappointment. When they brought it to me, we felt it was very overcooked. Our server promptly recognised this and in not long at all returned with another Lamb Gremolata.

Finally, our desserts from the menu really lived up to the refreshing flavours we anticipated. Mr Sunny feasted on the Strawberry Cheesecake Coppa, which is vanilla and strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries, strawberry coulis, meringue, ricotta-yoghurt and flaked almonds. I loved the Torta di Cioccolata. The flourless cake ended far too soon for me. I will likely dream about it for many summer nights.

Another refreshing ice cream on the menu is the Limoncello Coppa, with vanilla ice cream, candied lemon peel topped with limoncello syrup and amaretti biscuits.

Free Pocket Guide to London Restaurants

Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

Carluccio’s Covent Garden- Masterclass

On 17th and 18th June, Campari’s brand ambassador, Paolo Tonellotto, will be sharing his tips on how to make the perfect Negroni at the Carluccio’s Covent Garden location on Garrick Street. Each 90-minute session costs £20 and includes two Negroni and antipasti and takes place at 18.30 and 20.30 on each evening.

In addition, visit any Carluccio’s across the country where three limited edition summer Negroni await – Negroni al Limone, a concoction of Campari, Cinzano 1757 Red Vermouth, and Malfy Gin (£8.50); Strawberry Negroni with Campari, Cinzano 1757 Red Vermouth, strawberry infused Pampero White Rum and strawberry purée (£8.75); or the Negroni Sbagliato with Campari, Cinzano 1757 Red Vermouth, and Prosecco (£8.75).

Carluccio’s – Hampers

Did you know Carluccio’s offers hand-picked hampers, filled with artisan Italian products from the deli?

Options include a small hamper (£23.95 and available to pick up from your local Carluccio’s deli) with fresh Pappardelle Pasta, meaty venison Ragu di Cervo and wild boar Ragu di Cinghiale sauces, and a bottle of Umani Ronchi Babylon Rosso red wine to finish. Also included is a Carluccio’s meat, poultry and game book packed full of Antonio Carluccio’s recipes that harness Italy’s variety of cuts and specialties.

Our experience was complimentary but this does not influence our ability to provide an honest review. Mr Sunny has purchased the balsamic vinegar many times from Carluccio’s in the past and stands by his opinion!

July 8, 2019 by: Sunny London

7 Great Vodka Cocktail Recipes for You To Try

This summer seemed a little slow in appearing, but it looks as though it has finally arrived. When the sun comes out, it can only mean one thing; it’s time for cocktails, Sunny friends!

We’re going to look at a few great cocktail choices that you can make with the most versatile of spirits: vodka.

Whether you’re having some friends round for a barbecue, hosting a party, or just taking it easy on a sun lounger in your back garden. These vodka cocktails are as refreshing as they are cheeky.

Appletini

Formerly known as the Adam’s Apple, after the bartender who invented it, the Appletini is a simple, modern classic. Mix equal measures of vodka and cloudy apple juice together, add in some maple syrup, lemon juice and crushed ice. Shake well, then serve. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

Bloody Mary

A classic cocktail, which is essential for any discerning vodka drinkers repertoire. You can play around with the recipe to give it a bit of extra kick if you like. Mix two parts vodka with four parts tomato juice. Then add four dashes of Worcestershire sauce and four of tabasco sauce. Throw in a bit of lemon juice, salt and pepper. Shake well with crushed ice, serve and garnish with celery.

Cosmopolitan

Versions of the Cosmo have been floating around for decades. Versions of it were possibly drunk as early as the 1930s. It’s so tasty; it’ll never go out of style. To make it, take 50ml of lemon vodka, mix with a dash of orange liqueur (use triple sec), a dash of lime juice and 50mls of cranberry juice. Add crushed ice. Shake, and then serve.

Moscow Mule

Traditionally served in a copper cup, the Moscow mule is sometimes known as a Vodka Buck. Mix 9 parts ginger beer with one part vodka, add a dash of lime. Shake, and then serve garnished with a wedge of lime.

Screwdriver

An all-time classic cocktail, the screwdriver is another that has likely been drunk since the 1930s. It’s ridiculously simple to make, as it has just two ingredients. Mix two parts vodka, with four parts orange juice. Throw in some crushed ice. Shake, and then serve. Couldn’t be simpler. If you’re up for a more interesting variation and have some Galiano knocking around, throw a measure of that in too, and you’ll have yourself a Harvey Wallbanger.

Woo Woo

The party time cocktail, Woo Woo is quite refreshing on a hot summer’s day. Mix two parts vodka, one part peach schnapps and four parts cranberry juice. Mix with ice, shake. Then serve in a high ball glass, with a garnish of lime.

Sex on the Beach

First made in Florida in the 1980s, sex on the beach became popular with the rise of peach schnapps. Very similar to the Woo Woo, only add orange juice too. It was my favourite cocktail when I was at Florida State University.

If you want a kick from your cocktail though, try the Sex On Fire variation by adding Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

This is a contributed post on Sunny in London.

July 24, 2019 by: Sunny London

Waterfront Pub London Review

While there are many popular pubs in London by the river Thames, not all of them can boast about a swanky refurbishment. To beat the heat this week, Mr Sunny and I ventured to Wandsworth to see the Waterfront Pub’s new look, and we really enjoyed our afternoon there.

It’s fair to say that if you are looking for a huge outdoor terrace to enjoy a cocktail, pint and live music, you don’t want to miss an experience at Waterfront Pub. This is especially true if you want to avoid the Central London crowds.

Keep in mind as you are reading that we visited the Waterfront Pub on a Monday nearly minutes after they opened. This is my preference when invited for a review because I can freely take photos without disturbing anyone. I can imagine that with this beautiful terrace, the Waterfront Pub gets pretty packed with locals on evenings and weekends.

We don’t get to the Battersea area often because we live in North London. Young’s Pubs tend to be located mostly south of the river Thames. However, I do associate all of my Young’s Pubs experiences at their gastropubs with a colourful, airy decor and fantastic food. Our lunch at Waterfront Pub met this expectation.

Waterfront Pub London Review- Atmosphere

Visiting during a July heatwave meant we wanted a refreshing, relaxed atmosphere. The rich colour palette of the new upholstery was inviting, but we chose to eat outside. I can imagine this pub would be quite cosy during the winter. They might have trouble getting the locals to leave with this setup!

We also appreciated the ample space available to film a YouTube video about Riverside Pubs (with the Waterfront as the star, of course!) while we were there. In fact, when I was researching the Waterfront Pub before our visit, I was really impressed with the views and decor in the photos. I asked if I could film several Sunny News videos at the pub during our visit to maximise the opportunity in such a picturesque place.

Waterfront Pub London Review- Food

Overall, we feel the food at Waterfront Pub is the most photogenic we have ever seen in London. Maybe it was the sun? Maybe it was the great space to film? Take a look at the video to see what I mean…

For Starters, Mr Sunny ordered the Grilled King Prawns, wild garlic and sourdough toast. I had the cauliflower with avocado mayo and beet dressing.

From the Mains, Mr Sunny loved the short rib of beef, harissa yoghurt, red slaw and sorrel gremolata. I watched the meat melted off the bone while he ate, and it wasn’t because of the heat outside, Sunny friends! He felt it was cooked perfectly.

The Young’s beer-battered cod with triple-cooked chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce was a delight! Foremost, it was the biggest piece of cod I have ever seen on a plate in London. To say it produced one hell of a panning shot in the video would be pretty punny. But- no joke- you should watch the video just to see the length of this thing!

And, needless to say, the taste didn’t disappoint. I will spare you the shot of my empty plate because the carnage wasn’t Insta-worthy. But what finished fish ever is?

Waterfront Pub London Review- Final Thoughts

Our service and overall experience at Waterfront Pub London gets two thumbs up. We were a bit jealous of the locals in the surrounding area because the gastropub seems to tick all the boxes for people who seek space, good food and a great ambience. If we lived closer, I am sure we would pop in more often. It would be great to see the vibe at night.

They also had a huge ‘Gintastic’ festival there in July that I am guessing was really cool. If you live near the pub, I think it would be a good idea to keep an eye on their events, especially when it’s HOT in London!

Want a Freebie for London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

August 21, 2019 by: Sunny London

My Old Dutch Pancakes in Holborn Review

My morning didn’t begin the way I planned. Luckily, this summer I put together a wish list of breakfast places in London so all was resolved at My Old Dutch pancakes in Holborn.

Originally, the day’s itinerary involved leaving the house at 7.15am with Mr Sunny. I was going to ride to work with him and then make my way to Covent Garden. However when the alarm went off at 6am, that great plan didn’t sound so enticing. Sleeping in longer seemed so much smarter.

I’ve been on a serious breakfast kick this summer and wanted to try to little porridge place that’s been open for a few years. I had read it is quite popular and it’s best to get there really early. By the time I arrived, every table was full except a seat at the bar. After 15 minutes of waiting and not even receiving a menu, I decided porridge wasn’t worth the hassle and hit somewhere I knew was going to be fab.

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I’ve walked by My Old Dutch in Holborn many times in the afternoon and evening. You can’t miss the bright orange exterior. Believe it or not, I actually had to pull down the orange saturation in the image above when I was editing the pictures!

My Old Dutch pancakes has other locations in Chelsea and Kensington too. There is always plenty of people inside, so that’s why I had always been curious about what the food is like.

Luckily when I arrive there were available tables by the window and they were able to seat me at one. I chose the window because it was a beautiful, sunny day in London.

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Also, if all went as anticipated, I was going to write a My Old Dutch Pancakes review on the blog and wanted great lighting for the food photos.

First on the agenda was getting myself a large latte.

My Old Dutch Pancakes Review: The Food

The menu is quite big and divided in to many different sections. My a la Carte, My Butterscotch, My Poffertjes, etc. I was most excited to see that many items are available gluten free. Well, not really. I wish I didn’t have to eaten gluten free. Regular stuff is always better in my opinion. However, since this was going to be more indulgent than my original porridge plan, I wanted to keep breakfast somewhat sensible.

Honestly, it was really bugging me that Mr Sunny was at work and couldn’t join me. There is so much food on the menu I want to try. It would have been nice to have my partner in crime there to do some sampling with me.

I decided to play most popular and choose the My Old Dutch. This item is their signature dish. I don’t know if this photo captures the true enormity of what hits the table when you order My Old Dutch.

It’s on the Classic Savoury Pancakes menu. It features smoked bacon, chicken, ham, red and yellow sweet peppers, mushrooms, sweet corn and cheese.

I might be on a sweet corn kick too, if you think about what I ordered at our Chelsea brunch last week.

I did my best to finish it, but My Old Dutch won round one. I really enjoyed it, although some of the edges were a bit toastier than I would have liked.

My Old Dutch Pancakes Review Holborn- The Service

When you write reviews that are organised through PR companies you nearly always get stellar service. You hope that everyone’s experience at a restaurant is the same as yours. However, when you are a paying patron you might be better positioned to get a clearer picture of what a restaurant offers.

The menu is impressive at My Old Dutch pancakes and my service was equally as great. Everyone I encountered was knowledgable about the menu and eager to help me make the best choice.

They also gave me a loyalty card for my next visit. I bet that porridge place doesn’t do that! 🙂

I am looking forward to taking Mr Sunny to a My Old Dutch location the next time we are both off work together and will certainly include this primarily pancakes restaurant in the next revision of my Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies.